Eaton Democrat

Horrible Murder at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Daily Standard of the 5th says that a most cold-blooded murder was committed in that place recently. Three persons had been arrested, on suspicion of connection with the crime, one of whom made a confession, which the Standard gives as follows:

"Romaine and Madden learned the day before the murder that the old man, Dunbar, had a considerable amount of money in his possession, and they determined to possess themselves of it, if possible, by robbing, if not, then by murder and robbery. Their first attempt was by the use of chloroform, but the druggist from whom they purchased it, suspecting all was not right, gave them an article too weak to produce any effect.

"Failing in this attempt, they met at a grocery on Main street and resolved to follow and rob the old man, on his way to his boarding house, to which he had just started. At the door they met Keeler, to whom they unfolded their scheme, and who readily consented to unite with them. This was about seven o'clock in the evening, and the streets were full of persons returning from their supper to their business and attending the Wednesday evening meetings at the different churches, and seemingly the most unpropitious of all others for such a deed.

"They dogged Dunbar until he reached Berry street, at a point just opposite the brick Presbyterian church, where he stopped and tumbled into Mt. Miller's lumber yard. Romaine then went to the rear house on the corner of Berry and Barr streets, where he procured the stick of hickory stove wood found near the murdered man. This he concealed under his coat, and turned to where Dunbar was, and with it quickly dispatched him. After killing Dunbar, they all three hastily fled and separated, but meeting in a few minutes again, near the Grocery from which they started, then returned to rob the body. Romaine and Madden did this, leaving Keeler on the street to watch.

"After getting the money they returned to Calhoun street, where, by a light from a window, Romaine divided the money, giving Keeler forty five dollars in gold and Madden a twenty dollar bill, and keeping the balance for himself. They then accompanied Keeler to near the west end of Columbia street, where he buried his money, and the three separated. This is Madden's statement, confirmed by the finding of the gold at the place designated, and by a number of other circumstances equally convincing. They are committed for trial at the next term of our Circuit Court."